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Revision as of 16:20, 5 August 2005
Chikungunya is a rare form of viral fever caused by an alphavirus that is spread by mosquito bites from the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The name is derived from the Swahili word meaning "that which bends up" in reference to the stooped posture developed as a result of the arthritic symptoms of the disease.
This disease was first described in Tanzania, Africa in 1952. An outbreak of Chikungunya was discovered in Port Klang in Malaysia in 1999 affecting 27 people .
The symptoms of this disease include fever which can reach 39 °C, a rash typically described as petechial or maculopapular usually involving the limbs and trunk, and arthralgia or arthritis affecting multiple joints which can be debilitating in severity. There can also be headache, conjunctival injection and slight photophobia.
A serological test for Chikungunya is available from the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
There is no specific treatment for Chikungunya. The illness is usually self-limiting and will resolve with time. Symptomatic treatment is recommended after excluding other more dangerous diseases.